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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 187 (Thursday, September 26, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59291-59292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23454]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0342; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-14-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co. KG 
Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co. KG (RRD) Tay 620-15, 650-15, and 651-
54 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the discovery 
that the low-pressure compressor (LPC) fan blades leading edges erode 
in service and create an unacceptable blade flutter margin. This 
proposed AD would require replacement of LPC fan blades. We are 
proposing this AD to prevent LPC fan blade failure, damage to the 
engine, and damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 25, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827 
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: 49 0 33-7086-1200 (direct 1016); 
fax: 49 0 33-7086-1212. You may view this service information at the 
FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material at 
the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (phone: 800-647-5527) is the same as the 
Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frederick Zink, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7779; 
fax: 781-238 7199; email: frederick.zink@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-0342; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-14-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search 
function of the Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any 
of our dockets, including, if provided, the name of the individual who 
sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy 
Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 
FR 19477-78).

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD 2013-0143, dated July 12, 2013 (referred to hereinafter as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    Service history of Tay series engines discovered that low 
pressure compressor (LPC) fan blade leading edge could be subject of 
excessive deterioration. The LPC fan blade leading edge profile 
influences the LPC aerodynamic characteristics and stability. This 
condition, if not corrected, could reduce fan flutter margin and, in 
some cases, could lead to fan blade failure, possibly resulting in 
uncontained release of high energy debris with consequent damage to, 
and/or reduced control of, the aeroplane.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket. Service-history-relevant failure cases and a standard leading 
edge erosion rate profile analysis support the requirement for 
replacement of fan blades at the cycle intervals listed in the proposed 
AD, to maintain an acceptable fan flutter margin. We are proposing this 
AD to prevent LPC fan blade failure, damage to the engine, and damage 
to the airplane.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of 
Germany, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with the European Community, EASA has 
notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe 
condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of 
the same type design. This proposed AD would require replacement of LPC 
fan blades at specific intervals.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 52 engines installed on 
airplanes

[[Page 59292]]

of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about six hours 
per engine to replace the LPC fan blades. The average labor rate is $85 
per hour. Required parts cost about $11,000 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to 
be $598,520.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation 
Programs,'' describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's 
authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not 
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship 
between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979), and
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, and
    (4) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directives (ADs):

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Formerly Rolls-Royce 
Deutschland GmbH, formerly Rolls-Royce plc): Docket No. FAA-2013-
0342; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-14-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by November 25, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co. KG (RRD) 
Tay 620-15, 650-15, and 651-54 turbofan engines.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by the discovery that the low-pressure 
compressor (LPC) fan blades leading edges erode in service and 
create an unacceptable blade flutter margin. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent LPC fan blade failure, damage to the engine, and damage 
to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) For Tay 620-15 engines, replace the complete set of LPC fan 
blades with a set eligible for installation as follows:
    (i) If on the effective date of this AD, the LPC fan blades:
    (A) Have less than 10,000 flight cycles since new (FCSN) or 
flight cycles since last repair (FCSLR), replace the blades before 
accumulating 12,000 FCSN or FCSLR.
    (B) Have 10,000 or more FCSN or FCSLR, replace the blades within 
2,000 flight cycles (FC).
    (ii) Thereafter, replace the LPC fan blades within 12,000 FCSN 
or FCSLR.
    (2) For Tay 650-15 and Tay 651-54 engines, replace the complete 
set of LPC fan blades with a set eligible for installation as 
follows:
    (i) If on the effective date of this AD, the LPC fan blades
    (A) Have less than 8,000 FCSN or FCSLR, replace the blades 
before accumulating 10,000 FCSN or FCSLR.
    (B) Have 8,000 or more FCSN or FCSLR, replace the fan blades 
within 2,000 FC.
    (ii) Thereafter, replace the LPC fan blades within 10,000 FCSN 
or FCSLR.

(f) Definitions

    (1) For the purpose of this AD, a repair is one that was 
performed in accordance with RRD Alert Non-Modification Service 
Bulletin (NMSB) No. Tay-72-A1782, Revision 2, dated May 30, 2013, or 
earlier versions of this Alert NMSB.
    (2) LPC fan blades eligible for installation are:
    (i) For Tay 620-15 engines, LPC fan blades with less than 12,000 
FCSN or FCSLR; and
    (ii) For Tay 650-15 and Tay 651-54 engines, LPC fan blades with 
less than 10,000 FCSN or FCSLR.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
to this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your 
request.

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Frederick Zink, 
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7779; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
frederick.zink@faa.gov.
    (2) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2013-0143, dated 
July 12, 2013, for more information. You may examine the AD on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
it in Docket No. FAA-2013-0342.
    (3) RRD Alert NMSB No. Tay-72-A1782, Revision 2, dated May 30, 
2013, pertains to the subject of this AD and can be obtained from 
RRD, using the contact information in paragraph (h)(4) of this AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, Eschenweg 11, Dahlewitz, 15827 
Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany; phone: 49 0 33-7086-1200 (direct 
1016); fax: 49 0 33-7086-1212.
    (5) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, 
call 781-238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on September 16, 2013.
Carlos A. Pestana,
Acting Directorate Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-23454 Filed 9-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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